Barcelona has rejected Manchester United's initial approach of €60 million (£51.3 million) with a potential €10 million in add-ons for Frenkie de Jong.

Man Utd remain in contact, with Erik ten Hag making the Netherlands midfielder a priority target in his first summer as United’s manager.For a year and a half at Ajax, the two  worked together.

De Jong is valued at around €85 million by Barcelona, who may be willing to sell due to their financial difficulties. A pact would make it easier for them to sign players like Bernardo Silva of Manchester City or Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich.

De Jong is not pushing to leave Barcelona – he told the Guardian in February he hoped to stay “for many more years” – and if he were to move his preference would be to join a club in the Champions League.